Reading List
One of my colleagues pointed out to me today that I have been totally absent from the blogosphere for quite some time (just over two months of silence). I freely admit that GoDaddy keeps me very fully engaged. When I do let other things intrude on my work time (yes, something of a workaholic), it just isn't blogging. He asked if I had read anything interesting lately and would I publish it. So I decided to provide a little recommended reading. Take my reading advice at your own risk.
Barry Schwartz's The Paradox of Choice
With a Subtitle like "Why More is Less" you get a good sense of the direction of this book from the start. It was recommended to me by the editor of Domain Name Wire. You can follow Andrew Allemann at @domainnamewire . Not dissimilar from other purchase behavior tomes (Ariely's Predictably Irrational), Schwartz's book dives into the correlation between happiness and choice. Through psychological models, he attempts to answer the question of why Americans are not exhibiting the mental well-being one would expect from the abundance placed before them. When I finished the book I immediately shared it with a colleague from marketing and asked her to read it in the context of our customer marketing efforts and website UX.
Chris Anderson's The Long Tail
A re-read of a revised and updated version. Notice the subtitle: Why the Future of Business is Selling Less of More. Right, less and more are popular words these days. This book is just as relevant now to Internet businesses and their marketeers as it was in its first edition and in the Wired article before that in 2004. The basic premise-matching unlimited selection with a large population in the tail of a distribution curve. Ebay, Amazon, Netflix, iTunes are all great examples. I would argue domain name selection is as well. We've launched a sales marketplace at GoDaddy so this book is an enlightening refresher.
Dr. Louann Brizendine's companion pieces, The Female Brain, The Male Brain
I read them in that order and entirely on the iPad using the Kindle App. What a great device! I highly recommend these books to anyone who is married or has kids. Its not that the information is so astounding-men and women are different. We all, mostly, know that. Its the biochemistry at work that she illustrates, and, most importantly, the changes that take place in each phase of life for each gender, that are fascinating. I texted key lines from the book to my wife while I traveled. As it turns out, my wife's female brain isn't exactly receptive to that type of staccato information consumption. I was however really happy when I looked at the doctor's website and saw the domain name was registered at GoDaddy.com.
David Kaiser's The Road to Dallas
This book, penned by a professor at the Naval War College, was a gift from Bob Parsons, the CEO of GoDaddy.com and an avid reader. It may make you question any pre-conceptions you had on the assassination of our 35th president. Have others pointed their finger at Cuba and the Mob? Yes. But Kaiser goes into painstaking detail relaying the web of connections and conspiracies that led to JFK's death. Double-dealing with pro and anti-Castro personalities. Robert Kennedy garnering the hatred of the Mafia bosses and Hoffa's Teamsters. It is by no means an easy read, but for those who stick with it, rewarding.
Enjoy.
Warren Adelman
Posted by Warren Adelman at 5/24/2010 8:20 PM 
Categories: Politics, Business, Human behavior
Tags: ecommerce responsibility social network
Categories: Politics, Business, Human behavior
Tags: ecommerce responsibility social network
No Ayn Rand? Indeed. I highly recommend The Fountainhead or in light of the policies of the current administration, perhaps We The Living is a better choice. Strongly suggest the latter.
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I'm in an Ayn Rand reading lull, but will be back at it shortly. In the meantime, I'm enjoying watching renditions of John Galt's speech on YouTube.
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As far as Ayn Rand goes, I would suggest you dive into her non-fiction like Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal or The Virtue of Selfishness. They develop and amplify the themes and ideas found in Atlas Shrugged and The Fountainhead. Her defense of capitalism as a moral system is quite unique in history--most defenders laud its practical, utilitarian benefits while conceding the moral high ground to statism.
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Im discovering there are a lot of Ayn Rand fans out there.
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Glad you enjoyed The Paradox of Choice.
Incidentally, Ariely's new book "The Upside of Irrationality" comes out next week.
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I'll check out his new book. Thanks for the heads up and the post.
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Schwartz was a real eye-opener for me. My best friend gave me a copy as a gift years ago after a long discussion between us about UX.
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